Care of the Patient with Amblyopia (Clinical Practice Guideline 4)

Care of the Patient with

Amblyopia

OPTOMETRIC CLINICAL PRACTICE GUIDELINE

OPTOMETRY: THE PRIMARY EYE CARE PROFESSION

Doctors of optometry are independent primary health care providers who examine, diagnose, treat, and manage diseases and disorders of the visual system, the eye, and associated structures as well as diagnose related systemic conditions. Optometrists provide more than two-thirds of the primary eye care services in the United States. They are more widely distributed geographically than other eye care providers and are readily accessible for the delivery of eye and vision care services. There are approximately 32,000 full-time equivalent doctors of optometry currently in practice in the United States. Optometrists practice in more than 7,000 communities across the United States, serving as the sole primary eye care provider in more than 4,300 communities. The mission of the profession of optometry is to fulfill the vision and eye care needs of the public through clinical care, research, and education, all of which enhance the quality of life.

OPTOMETRIC CLINICAL PRACTICE GUIDELINE CARE OF THE PATIENT WITH AMBLYOPIA

Reference Guide for Clinicians Prepared by the American Optometric Association Consensus Panel On Care of the Patient With Amblyopia: Michael W. Rouse, O.D., M.S., Principal Author Jeffery S. Cooper, O.D., M.S. Susan A. Cotter, O.D. Leonard J. Press, O.D. Barry M. Tannen, O.D.

Reviewed By The AOA Clinical Guidelines Coordinating Committee: John F. Amos, O.D., M.S., Chair Kerry L. Beebe, O.D. Jerry Cavallerano, O.D., Ph.D. John Lahr, O.D. Richard Wallingford, Jr., O.D. Approved by the AOA Board Of Trustees June 29, 1994 Revised October, 1998, Reviewed 2004 © American Optometric Association 1994

243 N. Lindbergh Blvd., St. Louis, MO 63141-7881

Printed in U.S.A.

NOTE: Clinicians should not rely on the Clinical Guideline alone for patient care and management. Refer to the listed references and other sources for a more detailed analysis and discussion of research and patient care information. The information in the Guideline is current as of the date of publication. It will be reviewed periodically and revised as needed.

Care of the Patient with Amblyopia iii

TABLE OF CONTENTS INTRODUCTION...................................................................................1 I. STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM...........................................3 A. Description and Classification of Amblyopia .......................3 1. Form Deprivation Amblyopia......................................6 2. Refractive Amblyopia..................................................6 a. Isoametropic Amblyopia....................................6 b. Anisometropic Amblyopia.................................7 3. Strabismic Amblyopia .................................................8 B. Epidemiology of Amblyopia .................................................9 1. Prevalence and Incidence ............................................9 2. Risk Factors ...............................................................10 C. Clinical Background of Amblyopia.....................................10 1. Natural History ..........................................................10 2. Common Signs, Symptoms, and Complications .......11 3. Early Detection and Prevention .................................12 II. CARE PROCESS ........................................................................15 A. Diagnosis of Amblyopia......................................................15 1. Patient History ...........................................................15 2. Ocular Examination...................................................15 a. Visual Acuity ...................................................15 b. Refraction.........................................................16 c. Monocular Fixation..........................................16 d. Ocular Motor Deviation...................................17 e. Sensorimotor Fusion ........................................17 f. Accommodation...............................................18 g. Ocular Motility ................................................18 h. Ocular Health Assessment and Systemic Health

Screening .........................................................18 i. Supplemental Testing ......................................18 B. Management of Amblyopia.................................................19 1. Basis for Treatment ...................................................19 2. Available Treatment Options.....................................20 a. Optical Correction............................................20 b. Occlusion .........................................................20

iv Care of the Patient with Amblyopia

c. Active Vision Therapy.....................................21 d. Management of Deprivation Amblyopia .........22 e. Management of Isoametropic Amblyopia .......23 f. Management of Anisometropic Amblyopia.....23 g. Management of Strabismic Amblyopia ...........24 3. Patient Education.......................................................26 4. Prognosis ...................................................................26 a. Deprivation Amblyopia ...................................27 b. Isoametropic Amblyopia..................................27 c. Anisometropic Amblyopia...............................28 d. Strabismic Amblyopia .....................................28 CONCLUSION .....................................................................................31 III. REFERENCES ............................................................................32 IV. APPENDIX ..................................................................................49

Figure 1: Optometric Management of the Patient with Amblyopia: A Brief Flowchart .........................................................49

Figure 2: Potential Components of the Diagnostic Evaluation for Amblyopia ....................................................................50

Figure 3: Frequency and Composition of Evaluation and Management Visits for Amblyopia...............................51

Figure 4: ICD-9-CM Classification of Functional Amblyopia ....53 Glossary.........................................................................................54

Introduction 1

INTRODUCTION Optometrists, through their clinical education, training, experience, and broad geographic distribution, have the means to provide effective primary eye and vision care for a significant portion of the American public and are often the first health care practitioners to diagnose amblyopia. This Optometric Clinical Practice Guideline for the Care of the Patient with Amblyopia describes appropriate examination and treatment procedures to reduce the risk of visual disability from amblyopia. It contains recommendations for timely diagnosis, treatment, and, when necessary, referral for consultation with or treatment by another health care provider. This Guideline will assist optometrists in achieving the following goals: • Identify patients at risk of developing amblyopia • Accurately diagnose amblyopia • Improve the quality of care rendered to patients with amblyopia • Minimize the adverse effects of amblyopia • Preserve the gains obtained through treatment • Inform and educate parents, patients, and other health care

practitioners about the visual complications of amblyopia and the availability of treatment.

Statement of the Problem 3

I. STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM Amblyopia, also referred to by the public as "lazy eye", is a unilateral or infrequently bilateral condition in which the best corrected visual acuity is poorer than 20/20 in the absence of any obvious structural anomalies or ocular disease.1 Amblyopia represents a syndrome of compromising deficits, rather than simply reduced visual acuity, including: • Increased sensitivity to contour interaction effects2,3 • Abnormal spatial distortions and uncertainty4 • Unsteady and inaccurate monocular fixation5 • Poor eye tracking ability6 • Reduced contrast sensitivity7 • Inaccurate accommodative response.8,9 The loss of visual acuity in amblyopia ranges from slightly worse than normal (6/6, 20/20) to functionally blind (6/60, 20/200, or worse). Functional amblyopia only develops in children up to the age of 6-8 years,10 although it may persist for life once established. In the under-20 age group, amblyopia causes more vision loss than trauma and all other ocular diseases.11 The Visual Acuity Impairment Study, sponsored by the National Eye Institute, found functional amblyopia to be the leading cause of monocular vision loss in the 20-70+ age group, surpassing diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma, macular degeneration, and cataract.12 A. Description and Classification of Amblyopia The classification of amblyopia is based on the clinical conditions responsible for its development (Table 1).1,13-17 This classification serves as a practical method for identifying its etiology and applying appropriate management strategies. Functional amblyopia occurs before 6-8 years of age and is attributable to form deprivation, strabismus, or anisometropia.1 Other forms of vision loss are sometimes incorrectly classified as amblyopia: • Psychogenic or hysterical vision loss is characterized by the

substitution of physical signs or symptoms (e.g., reduced visual acuity) for anxiety or emotional repression.

4 Care of the Patient with Amblyopia

• Organic vision loss is attributable to ocular disease or anatomical anomalies in the visual pathways.


TABLE 1 Differential Diagnosis of Cases of Reduced Visual Acuity

Functional amblyopia causes: 1. Form deprivation Congenital or traumatic cataract Early complete blepharoptosis Corneal opacity Hyphema Vitreous hemorrhage Uncontrolled occlusion therapy Uncontrolled penalization therapy 2. Constant unilateral strabismus 3. Amblyopiogenic uncorrected refractive error Anisometropia (spherical or astigmatic) Isoametropia 4. Combined aniso-strabismus Psychogenic causes: 1. Conversion hysteria 2. Malingering Structural/pathological causes: 1. Achromatopsia 2. Coloboma 3. Myelinated retinal nerve fibers 4. Retinopathy of prematurity 5. Degenerative myopia 6. Hypoplastic optic nerve 7. Keratoconus 8. Opacities of the media 9. Macular, perimacular chorioretinal scar 10. Macular pathology (e.g., Stargardt's disease) 11. Optic atrophy 12. Retrobulbar neuritis 13. Nystagmus (congenital, latent, manifest latent) 14. Craniopharyngioma


The scope of this Guideline covers the diagnosis, treatment, and management of functional amblyopia (See Appendix Figure 4 for ICD-9-CM classification of functional amblyopia). 1. Form Deprivation Amblyopia When a physical obstruction along the line of sight prevents the formation of a well-focused, high-contrast image on the retina, the result is form deprivation amblyopia.1 This obstruction can occur in one or both eyes and must take place before the age of 6-8 years for amblyopia to develop. The degree to which amblyopia develops depends on the time of onset and the extent of the form deprivation. Congenital cataract is the most frequent cause of form deprivation amblyopia. Other conditions that can lead to the development of form deprivation amblyopia include traumatic cataract, corneal opacities, congenital ptosis,18,19 hyphema, vitreous opacification or clouding, prolonged uncontrolled patching (occlusion therapy),20 prolonged unilateral blepharospasm, and prolonged unilateral atropinization for occlusion therapy.21 2. Refractive Amblyopia Refractive amblyopia results from either high but equal (isoametropic) or clinically significant unequal (anisometropic) uncorrected refractive errors (Table 2).15,16,22 a. Isoametropic Amblyopia Isoametropic amblyopia is an uncommon form of amblyopia caused by a high but approximately equal uncorrected bilateral refractive error that creates a blurred image on each retina. Over time, this subtle type of visual form deprivation delays normal neurophysiological development of the visual pathway and visual cortex. Hyperopia greater than 5.00 diopters (D), myopia greater than 8.00 D, and astigmatism greater than 2.50 D are common causes of isoametropic amblyopia. Patients with isoametropic amblyopia have a wide range of visual acuity loss, from slightly worse than 20/20 to 20/200, although the majority of patients have initial best corrected visual acuity of 20/50 or better.23


b. Anisometropic Amblyopia Anisometropic amblyopia is caused by an uncorrected refractive error in which the difference between the corresponding major meridians of the two eyes is at least l D.13 This refractive difference causes a blurred image in the eye with the greater refractive error, disrupting the normal neurophysiological development of the visual pathway and visual cortex.1 Generally, the greater the anisometropia, the more severe the amblyopia.24-26 Patients with hyperopic anisometropia with as little as l D difference between the eyes may develop amblyopia,27 but those with myopic anisometropia usually do not have amblyopia until the amount of anisometropia reaches 3-4 D.26 The patient with myopic anisometropia uses the more myopic eye at near and the less myopic eye at far until the myopia exceeds 3 D, thereby maintaining foveal fixation and good corrected acuity in each eye. Because the person with hyperopic anisometropia uses the less hyperopic eye for fixation at all distances, the more hyperopic eye never receives a clear image, resulting in amblyopia. Patients with anisometropic amblyopia have a wide range of visual acuities, from slightly worse than 20/20 to poorer than 20/200. The average best corrected visual acuity is approximately 20/60.28 When the etiology is a combination of anisometropia and strabismus, the average visual acuity is approximately 20/94.28


Table 2 Potentially Amblyopiogenic Refractive Errors

Isoametropia Diopters

Astigmatism >2.50 D

Hyperopia >5.00 D

Myopia >8.00 D

Anisometropia

Astigmatism >1.50 D

Hyperopia >1.00 D

Myopia >3.00 D

3. Strabismic Amblyopia Strabismic amblyopia is most commonly associated with an early onset (<6-8 years of age) of constant unilateral strabismus. Due to the absence of bifoveal fixation, the two eyes receive different visual images, causing confusion and diplopia. To eliminate these problems, the visual system actively inhibits or suppresses the image from the turned eye. This active inhibition over time causes cortical spatial changes that result in a loss of visual acuity.4 In addition, these patients often use an off-foveal point for monocular fixation.5 Eccentric fixation, in which the patient has difficulty directing the fovea at the target, is the most significant motor anomaly associated with strabismic amblyopia. This behavior contributes to the loss of visual acuity in strabismic amblyopia.29,30 The size and steadiness of the eccentric fixation are important factors31 in determining both the passive


and active treatment options needed to restore foveal fixation and normal visual acuity. Patients with strabismic amblyopia have a wide range of visual acuity loss, from slightly worse than 20/20 to poorer than 20/200. The average best corrected visual acuity is approximately 20/74. When anisometropia and strabismus are the combined etiologies, the average visual acuity is approximately 20/94.28 Amblyopia may also occur in intermittent or alternating strabismus, but it is most frequently shallow (20/60 visual acuity or better). Although patients with an alternating strabismus typically exhibit normal acuity in each eye, some have shallow amblyopia in the more frequently deviating eye. B. Epidemiology of Amblyopia 1. Prevalence and Incidence Controversy over which visual acuity criteria should be adopted for the clinical definition of amblyopia has caused confusion as to the prevalence of amblyopia.32,33 Estimates of the prevalence can vary substantially depending on which criteria28 and population are selected (e.g., 3.5% for patients whose visual acuity is 20/30; 1.4% for 20/40). The best estimate of the prevalence in the general population is 2 percent.1,34 Refractive and strabismic amblyopia account for the vast majority of amblyopia. Anisometropic amblyopia and/or strabismic amblyopia account for over 90 percent of all amblyopia. Isoametropic amblyopia is rare, accounting for only 1-2 percent of all refractive amblyopia.16 The exact prevalence of form deprivation amblyopia is unclear, but it is also considered rare. The incidence of amblyopia in the preschool years is approximately 0.4 percent per year.32,33,35 If the prevalence after this period is approximately 2 percent, the annual incidence in the general population can be broadly estimated by assuming that 2-3 percent of healthy infants born each year will suffer visual loss from amblyopia.35,36


2. Risk Factors The risk of developing amblyopia is associated with strabismus, significant refractive error, and conditions that may cause form vision deprivation by physically blocking or occluding the visual axis of one or both eyes during the sensitive period from birth to 6-8 years of age. A number of additional risk factors have been identified: • Prematurity37,38 • Low birth weight39,40 • Retinopathy of prematurity (retrolental fibroplasia)40 • Cerebral palsy41-43 • Mental retardation44,45 • Family history of anisometropia, isoametropia, strabismus,

amblyopia, or congenital cataract.46-50 Maternal smoking and the use of drugs or alcohol are associated with increased risk for amblyopia and strabismus.51,52 The risk for amblyopia also increases fourfold following extraocular muscle surgery for early-onset esotropia.53,54 C. Clinical Background of Amblyopia 1. Natural History The visual pathways develop from birth to approximately 6-8 years of age, with the most rapid development occuring in infancy. During this time, the visual system is susceptible to known amblyopiogenic factors: form deprivation, optical defocus, and misalignment of the eyes. If left untreated, the two amblyopiogenic mechanisms, form deprivation and abnormal binocular inhibition, cause a progressive reduction of visual acuity until approximately 6-8 years of age, at which time visual acuity stabilizes. The child's age when exposed to an amblyopia-inducing condition appears to be the most important determinant for the development of amblyopia.55 Untreated unilateral form deprivation extending past the first 3 months of age profoundly affects visual acuity development. Untreated bilateral


visual form deprivation has a similar effect if it extends past 6 months of age. If treatment for these conditions is not initiated during this critical developmental period, the prognosis for normal vision development is poor. When the onset of the cause of deprivation occurs after the first 6-12 months, the prognosis for vision recovery is improved with early treatment. Untreated unequal or high equal refractive errors occuring during the developmental period can also have a significant effect on vision development. Because the onset and stability of refractive anomalies vary significantly, especially between 1 and 4 years of age, the exact onset of refractive amblyopia is often difficult to establish. In isoametropic amblyopia the uncorrected refractive anomaly creates a blurred image on each retina. Over time, this subtle type of visual form deprivation disrupts the normal neurophysiological development of the visual pathway and visual cortex. In anisometropia, the uncorrected refractive error creates a blurred image on one retina. Thus the mechanisms of both visual form deprivation and abnormal binocular inhibition contribute to the loss of acuity. The chances for improving visual acuity to 20/40 or better in both types of refractive amblyopia are favorable. Strabismic amblyopia is generally associated with a constant, unilateral strabismus that develops prior to 6-8 years of age. To eliminate the problem when the two eyes receive different images, the visual system actively inhibits or suppresses the image from the strabismic eye. This abnormal binocular inhibition is the primary mechanism causing vision loss. The untreated strabismic eye may develop a number of sensorimotor anomalies, most notably eccentric fixation, that can worsen the prognosis and significantly increase the length of treatment. 2. Common Signs, Symptoms, and Complications Amblyopia of one eye (as in anisometropic and strabismic amblyopia) usually produces little handicap and few symptoms because the patient typically has good visual acuity in the normal eye. The most significant problems usually result from a decrease in stereopsis, which may result in occupational exclusions and less efficient vision performance in


certain tasks, such as driving and near eye-hand coordination activities. In addition, amblyopia may contribute to later onset of strabismus. An additional problem with amblyopia is the potential loss of vision in the better eye.56 The patient with amblyopia is at a greater risk (3 times that of a normal adult; 17 times that of a normal child) of losing the vision of the better eye.57 There are many reports of improved vision in the amblyopic eye after loss of normal vision in the better eye. However, the chance of spontaneous improvement of visual acuity to a usable level (20/70 or better) is relatively low (~17%) unless there is complete loss of vision in the better eye.58 Intense therapeutic effort is needed to recover usable vision in adults who have strabismic amblyopia with eccentric fixation.59 Twenty-seven percent23 of patients with hyperopic isoametropic amblyopia may have an accompanying visual perceptual skills deficit associated with early learning problems. The prevalence of perceptual deficits is approximately three times greater for children whose refractive errors are corrected after 4 years of age than for those corrected earlier.23,60 3. Early Detection and Prevention Amblyopia is a preventable and a treatable condition especially if detected early. Screening for causes of form deprivation amblyopia should be conducted by the infant's primary care physician within the first 4-6 weeks after birth, and children at risk should be monitored yearly throughout the sensitive developmental period (birth to 6-8 years of age). Screening for amblyopiogenic refractive error and strabismus should also begin during the first year of life. At-risk children will need to be monitored yearly because from birth to 4 years of age there is considerable variability of refractive anomalies, especially astigmatism61-

64 and anisometropia.61,62,65 Screening children with a positive family history of strabismus or amblyopia may be a cost-effective strategy.66 A screening program to detect and treat amblyopia at age 4 has been extremely successful in other countries.67 Unfortunately, the percentage


of the preschool population that is properly screened for amblyopia in the United States is low.68 Therefore, optometrists should alert parents to the prevalence of and risk for the development of amblyopia and encourage them to seek regular professional vision care for their children.

The Care Process 15

II. CARE PROCESS A. Diagnosis of Amblyopia The evaluation of a patient with amblyopia may include, but is not limited to, the following areas. These examination components are not intended to be all inclusive because professional judgment and the individual patient's symptoms and findings may have significant impact on the nature, extent, and course of the services provided. Some components of care may be delegated (See Appendix Figure 2). 1. Patient History The major components of the patient history include: a review of the nature of the presenting problem and chief complaint; visual, ocular, and general health history; developmental and family history; and use of medications. There are typically few symptoms associated with amblyopia. The patient or the patient's parent may report poor vision in one or possibly both eyes and difficulty doing tasks requiring binocular depth perception. If amblyopia is associated with strabismus, the patient or parent may report a cosmetically noticeable eye turn or signs of strabismus that might include closing or winking one eye or reporting diplopia. The patient with isoametropic amblyopia may present with signs and symptoms indicating an associated visual perceptual skills deficit. 2. Ocular Examination a. Visual Acuity Reliable assessment of visual acuity in infants and young children can be accomplished by selecting procedures appropriate for the child's cognitive or chronological age.*69-71

* Refer to the Optometric Clinical Practice Guideline for Pediatric Eye and Vision Examination.


Relying on single object tests may seriously overestimate the patient's visual acuity level and result in a failure to diagnose amblyopia (a false negative). For school-age children, psychometric visual acuity charts, such as the S-chart Visual Acuity slides,72,73 the Psychometric Visual Acuity cards,74 or the Bailey-Lovie chart75 are useful. A psychometric evaluation of visual acuity results (plotted as visual acuity versus responses) provides the most reliable measure of the amblyopic patient's visual acuity.72,74 If a psychometric chart is not available, the practitioner can conduct a psychometric evaluation of the full-chart Snellen results,74 which correlate reasonably well with the more formal psychometric charts.76 For strabismic patients presenting with associated latent nystagmus,77 the practitioner can evaluate the amblyopic eye's visual acuity under binocular conditions using vectographic or anaglyphic (red-green) methods if possible, or holding a fogging (plus) lens in front of the nonamblyopic eye.78,79

b. Refraction The patient's refractive condition should be evaluated under both noncycloplegic and cycloplegic* conditions to determine whether the amblyopia has a refractive (anisometropic or isoametropic) etiology.24,80 Reassessment of visual acuity with best refractive correction is needed to avoid misdiagnosis of amblyopia. Subjective refraction is typically unreliable in patients with amblyopia and should only be used in conjunction with objective techniques. c. Monocular Fixation The method of choice for evaluating monocular fixation is visuoscopy using an ophthalmoscope with a calibrated fixation target.17,81 The practitioner should identify whether eccentric fixation is present and assess the characteristics of eccentric fixation: location, magnitude, and steadiness. When there is no foveal reflex, entoptic testing, such as

* Refer to the Optometric Clinical Practice Guideline for Pediatric Eye and Vision Examination.

The Care Process 17

Haidinger's brushes, Maxwell's spot, or Emergent Textural Contour,82 can be useful in assessing monocular fixation. d. Ocular Motor Deviation The breadth and depth of the investigation of the ocular motor deviation should parallel the patient's age and cognitive development.70 Objective tests (e.g., Hirschberg, Brückner, and unilateral/alternate cover testing) are preferred for use with amblyopic patients. The practitioner should determine whether strabismus is present, and when it is, determine the frequency (constant or intermittent), the laterality (unilateral or alternating), and magnitude of the deviation.* e. Sensorimotor Fusion An evaluation of sensorimotor fusion may be conducted either "out-of-instrument" (in open or free space) or "in-instrument." The out-of-instrument evaluation is most appropriate for patients with nonstrabismic amblyopia. The red lens, Worth's four dot, and random dot stereopsis tests are good examples of out-of-instrument tests to evaluate sensorimotor fusion, specifically to determine the presence of suppression and the level of stereopsis. An in-instrument evaluation is most appropriate for the patient with strabismic amblyopia. Testing conducted at the patient's angle of deviation, which eliminates the vergence demand, gives a clearer picture of the patient's sensory fusion potential. However, an out-of-instrument evaluation provides useful information about the patient's sensory fusion status under normal or near-normal seeing conditions. The major amblyoscope is the instrument of choice for evaluating sensorimotor fusion at the patient's angle of deviation. If a major amblyoscope is not available, it is possible to conduct an investigation using the mirror stereoscope trainer or, if angle of deviation is less than 25 prism diopters (PD), the Brewster stereoscope. * Refer to the Optometric Clinical Practice Guideline for Care of the Patient with Strabismus.


f. Accommodation An evaluation of accommodative function involves testing monocular accommodative amplitude (push-up or minus-lens method) and facility (plus-minus flipper method).83,84 If the patient is nonstrabismic, the evaluation of accommodative accuracy (lag) may be assessed using the monocular estimation method (MEM).85 g. Ocular Motility Examination of ocular motility should be done to evaluate the quality of fixation maintenance and saccadic and pursuit eye movements. Ocular motility can be assessed by observation, rating scale-assisted observation,83,86,87 simple quantifying tests,88 or, if available, sophisticated eye-monitoring instrumentation.89 h. Ocular Health Assessment and Systemic Health Screening Ocular health should be evaluated to rule out coincidental or causal congenital anomalies or disease, associated with the amblyopia. This evaluation may include assessment of pupillary function, monocular color vision, and the anterior segment with the biomicroscope. Pharmacologic dilation of the pupil is generally required for thorough evaluation of the ocular media and posterior segment. To rule out psychogenic or organic causes of decreased vision, the practitioner may evaluate visual fields in patients with bilaterally reduced visual acuity but no significant isoametropia, history of bilateral form deprivation, or retinal disease. i. Supplemental Testing Additional procedures may be indicated for the identification of associated conditions. A differential diagnosis may require an additional office visit. Electrodiagnostic testing by flash visual evoked potential or electroretinogram may be indicated to rule out conversion hysteria or malingering. Electrodiagnostic testing may also be indicated for patients in whom acquired diseases or congenital anomalies of the optic nerve or

The Care Process 19

retina may account for the vision loss. Such testing assists in establishing the diagnosis and prognosis prior to treatment. Functional amblyopia and acquired disease or congenital anomalies often coexist, and together are called relative amblyopia. In many cases treatment of the functional amblyopia component is successful.90-92 B. Management of Amblyopia 1. Basis for Treatment Untreated amblyopia is an important health hazard. The risk for blindness is considerably higher for the amblyopic patient than for the general population.57 Vision loss in the healthy eye is often due to trauma, but in cases of functional amblyopia, diseases that usually affect both eyes first attack the eye with less functional impairment.93 Normal vision in both eyes substantially decreases the lifetime risk for ocular injury and incapacitating vision loss, thus reducing the socioeconomic cost of legal blindness. The treatment of amblyopia is justified not only because it improves vision in the amblyopic eye and decreases the risk of blindness in the fellow eye, but also because it facilitates fusion in a high percentage of cases, which, in turn, helps maintain eye alignment.94 Normal binocular vision and visual acuity are required in a variety of visually demanding careers. Treatment should be directed toward the two primary etiologies of amblyopia: form deprivation and binocular inhibition. Amblyopia therapy effectively restores normal or near-normal visual function by eliminating eccentric fixation and/or developing more extensive synaptic input to the visual cortex.95-99 It improves monocular deficits of visual acuity, monocular fixation, accommodation, and ocular motility. The final step in amblyopia therapy, if possible, is to develop normal binocular vision. The establishment of binocular vision eliminates or significantly reduces the underlying binocular inhibition in unilateral amblyopia, which increases the probability of maintaining visual acuity improvements (See Appendix Figure 1 for an overview of patient management strategy).


2. Available Treatment Options a. Optical Correction The rationale for correcting the refractive anomaly with spectacles or contact lenses is to ensure that the retina of each eye receives a clear optical image. Full correction of the ametropia is effective in some patients, especially isoametropic and anisometropic (< 2 D) patients who are binocular.25,100 The use of spectacles versus contact lenses for optical correction has been the subject of debate. Selection of the optical correction involves consideration of the relative advantages of each. Contact lenses appear to have certain advantages, including: • Reduction of aniseikonia in cases of refractive and axial

anisometropia101-107 • Improved cosmesis, which encourages better compliance with

wearing the optical correction • Elimination or reduction of prismatic imbalance, weight problems,

tilt, peripheral distortions, and visual field restrictions experienced by users of spectacle lenses.

Spectacles have the advantages of: • Being more economical in most cases • Providing a level of safety against injury to the better seeing eye • Serving as a modality for other optical modifications (bifocal or

prism) in the management of residual binocular anomalies. b. Occlusion Occlusion has been the cornerstone of treatment of amblyopia for over 200 years. The rationale for using occlusion is that occluding the better eye stimulates the amblyopic eye, decreasing inhibition by the better eye. Occlusion enables the amblyopic eye to enhance neural input to the visual cortex. It is also important in eliminating eccentric fixation. Both

The Care Process 21

convenient and economical, occlusion requires minimal in-office participation. Occlusion can be classified in several ways:108-112 • Type (direct, inverse, alternating) • Time (full-time, part-time, minimal) • Occluder (bandage, tie-on, spectacles, contact lenses,

pharmacologically induced). Numerous reports in the literature document the successful use of direct occlusion in the treatment of deprivation amblyopia,113 strabismic amblyopia with eccentric fixation,114-119 and anisometropic amblyopia.25,120-126 However, noncompliance with occlusion represents a significant factor in occlusion failures,127-129 especially in patients over 8 years of age in whom up to 50 percent noncompliance is common.129 Potential side effects of occlusion include: • Occlusion amblyopia (amblyopia of the better eye) resulting from

indiscriminate or poorly supervised occlusion20 • Precipitation of strabismus25,130,131 or an increase in the magnitude

of strabismus132,133 • Precipitation of diplopia • Poor compliance due to reduced vision during school and work-

related visual tasks • Cosmetic concerns • Skin allergies and irritations with bandage-type occluders.

c. Active Vision Therapy Optometric vision therapy or orthoptics is used to correct or improve specific dysfunctions of the vision system.134 Vision therapy refers to the total treatment program, which may include passive therapy options (e.g., spectacles, occlusion, pharmacologic agents) and active therapy.17 With such passive treatment options as optical correction and occlusion, the patient experiences a change in visual stimulation without any conscious effort. Active therapy is designed to improve visual performance by the patient's conscious involvement17,135 in a sequence of specific, controlled visual tasks or procedures that provide feedback


about the patient's performance.17,136,137 When a reflexive response is achieved, it is anticipated that improved performance will transfer to other noncontrolled visual tasks,138 ultimately changing the underlying visual processing mechanism.139,140 Active vision therapy for amblyopia is designed to remediate deficiencies in four specific areas: eye movements and fixation, spatial perception, accommodative efficiency, and binocular function.141 The goal of vision therapy is remediation of these deficiencies, with subsequent equalization of monocular skills and, finally, integration of the amblyopic eye into binocular functioning.142 Active monocular and binocular amblyopia therapies, as opposed to passive management (e.g., occlusion), reduce the total treatment time needed to achieve the best visual acuity.143-145 Monocular therapy involves stimulation techniques that enhance amblyopic resolution6 and foster more normal eye movements,146 central fixation,147,148 and accommodation of the amblyopic eye.149 Because active binocular inhibition is one of the underlying etiologies of unilateral types of amblyopia,150,151 antisuppression procedures are performed under binocular conditions152 or in-instrument conditions simulating binocular conditions.17 d. Management of Deprivation Amblyopia When a significant physical obstruction (e.g., congenital cataract) is diagnosed early, the initial management should involve consultation with an ophthalmologist regarding removal of the obstruction within the first 2 months of life.153-155 In the case of bilateral physical obstruction, surgery on the second eye typically follows the operation on the first eye by 1-2 weeks to minimize the period of binocular inhibition. Any significant refractive anomaly should be corrected, preferably with contact lenses, within 1 week after surgery. Part-time occlusion (2 hours per day) combined with visual stimulation techniques may also be prescribed.35 It is recommended the patient be followed at 2-4 week intervals for 1 year to monitor visual acuity and binocular development. If after 1 year the practitioner is satisfied with the optical correction,

The Care Process 23

corneal physiology is normal, and visual acuity has improved and stabilized, the patient can then be monitored at 6 month intervals. In the patient over 12 months old who has a physical obstruction, there may be a question about whether the condition is congenital or was acquired within the first 4-6 months of life. In these cases the prognosis for any significant improvement in visual acuity is poor. Electrodiagnostic testing is recommended to establish the prognosis before initiating any treatment or surgical consultation. e. Management of Isoametropic Amblyopia Initial treatment of isoametropic amblyopia involves full correction of the refractive error with spectacles or contact lenses. Within 4-6 weeks the practitioner should re-evaluate the visual acuity and refractive status and, if necessary, modify the optical correction to maintain full correction of the ametropia. Thereafter, followup may be conducted every 4-6 months to monitor visual acuity improvement. The patient may not reach his or her best visual acuity for 1-2 years after the initial correction of the refractive anomaly.23 Whereas these patients often have a severe accompanying accommodative insufficiency,156,157 the optometrist may prescribe active monocular vision therapy or consult with an optometrist who has advanced training or clinical experience in vision therapy. Ten to fifteen office visits plus home vision therapy 15-20 minutes daily may be sufficient to improve monocular vision function and establish stable binocular vision. More office visits may be necessary if home therapy is not possible. f. Management of Anisometropic Amblyopia The initial step in managing anisometropic amblyopia is full correction of the refractive error with spectacles or contact lenses. Contact lenses have been advocated as the optical treatment of choice in myopic anisometropic amblyopia.158 A few patients, especially adults, may need to begin with less than the full anisometropic prescription to ensure acceptance of the prescription and avoid diplopia. Simply correcting the refractive error improves visual acuity in some cases. This response is


expected more often in younger patients or patients in whom the degree of anisometropia is reasonably small (< 2 D).25 For children under the age of 6, the recommended initial treatment consists of having the patient wear the refractive correction for 4-6 weeks, then re-evaluating visual acuity before prescribing additional therapy.17 For older children, adults, and those younger children who do not respond to refractive correction alone, the practitioner may prescribe part-time direct occlusion and active vision therapy or consult with an optometrist who has advanced training or clinical experience in vision therapy.17,80 Part-time occlusion with an opaque or translucent occluder may be used 2-5 hours per day. Active vision therapy is recommended because several studies have shown a significant reduction in treatment time when procedures to improve monocular visual function are added.143-145 Once visual acuity has improved to a shallow amblyopia level (20/40-20/60), residual binocular anomalies, especially suppression, should be re-evaluated and treated. Therapy involving optical correction and occlusion only may last from 6 to 11.5 months,127 with the maximum effect of occlusion reached in the first 3-4 months.128,159 The addition of active vision therapy may reduce occlusion therapy time by up to 50 percent.145 When all treatment options are combined, the estimated treatment time to attain best visual acuity and establish normal binocular function in nonstrabismic anisometropic amblyopia is 15-25 office visits. For amblyopic patients who have a combined strabismus and anisometropia, the estimated treatment time is greater. Additional steps would be needed to treat the strabismus and, if possible, establish binocular vision. g. Management of Strabismic Amblyopia If the patient with strabismic amblyopia has a poor prognosis for binocular vision, the practitioner should set a treatment goal of shallow amblyopia to avoid the possibility of producing diplopia. When the prognosis is questionable because amblyopia complicates the evaluation of important prognostic factors, the practitioner should also set a goal of

The Care Process 25

shallow amblyopia. Once this level has been reached, the prognosis for binocular vision can be made. For the patient with a good prognosis for establishing binocular vision, the practitioner should set a goal of best possible visual acuity. The first step in managing strabismic amblyopia is full correction of the refractive error with either spectacles or contact lenses. In certain cases the full correction may need modification to address binocular vision considerations or patient acceptance. The refractive correction alone seldom results in improvement of visual acuity. Occlusion and active vision therapy or consultation with an optometrist who has advanced training or clinical experience in vision therapy may also be part of the initial management plan. Full-time occlusion is recommended for constant strabismus; part-time occlusion, for intermittent strabismus. When full-time occlusion is prescribed, performance issues need consideration. To allow the patient to function at school, at work, or when good visual acuity is critical, inverse occlusion may be considered with direct occlusion prescribed during less critical seeing tasks. In children under age 5 who have either central or eccentric fixation, direct full-time occlusion, with adjustments for performance, is the treatment of choice.116 For patients age 5 and over, eccentric fixation is a significant complication that requires more aggressive treatment.147 For older patients with eccentric fixation that does not respond to a trial period of 4-6 weeks direct occlusion, active vision therapy should be considered. Active vision therapy may include procedures to improve monocular visual function, especially procedures that promote central fixation.17 Once visual acuity has improved to 20/40-20/60, the optometrist should re-evaluate and treat residual binocular anomalies, especially suppression and strabismus, if appropriate. The duration of therapy using only optical correction and occlusion ranges from 6 to 11.5 months127 with the maximum effect of occlusion reached in the first 3-4 months.128,159 The addition of active vision therapy can reduce therapy time by up to 50 percent. The estimated treatment using a combination of treatment options is 25-35 office visits


to attain best visual acuity and central fixation. In some cases improved visual acuity will result in improved fusion and eye alignment. For patients who have a residual strabismus, the estimated treatment time may be greater; additional steps would be needed to treat the strabismus and establish normal binocular vision. 3. Patient Education The patient and/or parent should be informed of the diagnosis, the positive and negative aspects of the prognosis, the treatment options and sequence, and the estimated treatment time (See Appendix Figure 3). The final management plan formulated in consultation with the patient and/or parents should be responsive to their expectations and preferences. The optometrist should discuss the risks of no treatment (including the impact on future occupational opportunities and the probability of harm to the good eye) and the importance of protective eye wear and regular monitoring of the patient's condition. 4. Prognosis The prognosis for recovery of visual acuity and improvement of monocular deficits depends on the interplay of several factors: • Patient compliance • Specific type of amblyopia • Monocular fixation status • Age at onset • Initial visual acuity • Age of the patient when treatment is initiated • Type of treatment prescribed.

There is a sensitive or critical period early in life when an impediment to the development of normal binocular vision (constant strabismus or anisometropia) will cause abnormal visual input (suppression and/or monocular form deprivation), frequently resulting in amblyopia. In contrast, there is a period which extends much farther in years where the physiological effects of abnormal visual experience can be reversed.1,80,160

The Care Process 27

Considerable plasticity of the visual system is possible in humans with functional amblyopia up to 60 years of age. Numerous clinical studies have reported marked improvement in visual acuity in the amblyopic eyes of older patients.25,80,127,145,146,161-166 However, the rate, degree, and extent of recovery may be somewhat diminished in the older patient.167 Motivation, interest, dedication, and commitment to a rigorous treatment program are critical.17,167 Amblyopia is a syndrome of visual processing abnormalities. Although improvement of visual acuity has been the emphasis of most clinical studies, it should not be the single measure of success in the treatment of amblyopia.168 There is interest in developing broader measures of visual function more appropriate for evaluating the condition of amblyopia and its treatment.169 Unfortunately, review of current literature shows the focus limited almost entirely to the prognosis for visual acuity improvement. a. Deprivation Amblyopia The prognosis for improvement to 20/50 or better is good for a patient with unilateral congenital cataract if it is treated within the first 2 months of life. Unfortunately, the prognosis for binocular function remains poor, emphasizing the need for frequent followup through the critical period to maintain visual acuity improvements.113 b. Isoametropic Amblyopia For patients with hyperopic isoametropic amblyopia the likelihood of improving visual acuity to between 20/20 and 20/30 is excellent.170 This prognosis appears independent of the magnitude of the hyperopia, the initial aided visual acuity, or the age at initial correction. The prevalence of strabismus in patients with uncorrected hyperopic isoametropia is 67 percent. Approximately 30 percent of the patients remain strabismic even with the optical correction.23 Therefore, it is important to identify all associated conditions. Although there are no published studies, the general clinical impression is that the prognosis for patients with isoametropic myopic amblyopia due to form deprivation is also good.


The practitioner, however, needs to be careful to rule out structural or pathological causes of reduced vision in these cases. The patient with nonstrabismic isoametropic amblyopia should be monitored on a 4-6 month schedule. Maximal visual acuity improvement is expected within the first 2 years following correction. To speed improvement of visual acuity, active vision therapy may be prescribed following the initial correction of the refractive anomaly to improve accommodative156 and binocular function. c. Anisometropic Amblyopia In cases of hyperopic and astigmatic anisometropic amblyopia, the chances of improving visual acuity to 20/40 or better are considered good; reported success rates are 80-90 percent.25,67,121,171,172 The prognosis for myopic anisometropic amblyopia, once considered hopeless, is now considered fair; reported success rates are 55-80 percent.158,173-175 Post-treatment followup is critical to maintain treatment success. Estimates that 25-87 percent of patients experience some decrease in their visual acuity after treatment127,169,171,176 emphasize the importance of closely monitoring patients with amblyopia once they have been treated. Followups at 2, 4, 6, and 12 months are recommended during the first year after treatment of amblyopia even when treatment is successful.17 Most recurrent amblyopia can be attributed to failure to establish normal binocular vision once normal visual acuity has been achieved and the patient's failure to continue wearing the optical correction. d. Strabismic Amblyopia The prognosis for the patient with strabismic amblyopia was, until recently, considered poorer than that of one with anisometropia. Recent studies have shown that treating compliant young patients has a success rate similar to that reported for treatment of anisometropic amblyopia.67,128 The key to successful treatment of strabismic amblyopia is good patient compliance with the recommended treatment. The length of treatment needed to achieve success is age-related; on average, less

The Care Process 29

time is needed for treatment of younger children. The treatment is longer for older children because they often develop eccentric fixation, which lengthens the treatment time and reduces the prognosis for successful treatment of the amblyopia.31,92,176 A more favorable prognosis is typically associated with early diagnosis, early treatment, and central fixation. For the patient who remains strabismic, there is a strong chance that the amblyopia will recur. When the patient is over 5 years old, the possibility of creating an alternating strabismus to help maintain approximately equal visual acuity is significantly less.177 The best method of maintaining improved visual acuity is to establish normal binocular vision.94 However, the fact there is no guarantee that amblyopia will not recur17 emphasizes the importance of monitoring amblyopic patients closely once they have been treated. Even following successful treatment of amblyopia and strabismus, followups at 2, 4, 6, and 12 months are recommended.17

Conclusion 31

CONCLUSION During the period of rapid development of the visual pathways, from birth to approximately 6-8 years of age, the visual system is susceptible to the development of amblyopia caused by form deprivation, optical defocus, or misalignment of the eyes. The optometrist's major diagnostic task is to identify the underlying etiology and associated conditions. The prognosis for success is generally good, especially if the amblyopia is diagnosed and treated early. Optical correction, occlusion, and vision therapy are the major treatment options. Untreated amblyopic patients are at a greater risk for loss of vision in the better eye. The optometrist should carefully outline the possible outcome without treatment, including the risk for impact on future occupational opportunities, the possibility of harm to the good eye, and the importance of protective eye wear and regular monitoring of the patient's condition. The prevalence, potential risks, and possible costs of untreated amblyopia contrasted with the good prognosis for patients treated at any age necessitate the involvement of optometrists in the diagnosis and treatment, or referral for consultation of patients with amblyopia.


III. REFERENCES 1. Ciuffreda KJ, Levi DM, Selenow A. Amblyopia. Boston:

Butterworth-Heinemann, 1991:1-64. 2. Stuart JA, Burian HM. A study of separation difficulty, its

relationship to visual acuity in normal and amblyopic eyes. Am J Ophthalmol 1962; 53:471-7.

3. Flom MC, Weymouth FW, Kahneman D. Visual resolution and

contour interaction. J Opt Soc Am 1963; 53:1026-32. 4. Bedell HE, Flom MC. Monocular spatial distortion in strabismic

amblyopia. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 1981; 20:263-8. 5. Brock FW, Givner I. Fixation anomalies in amblyopia. Arch

Ophthalmol 1952; 47:775-86. 6. Ciuffreda KJ, Kenyon RV, Stark L. Fixational eye movements in

amblyopia and strabismus. J Am Optom Assoc 1979; 50:1251-8. 7. Hess RF, Howell ER. The threshold contrast sensitivity function

in strabismic amblyopia: evidence for a two type classification. Vision Res 1977; 17:1049-55.

8. Wood ICJ, Tomlinson A. The accommodative response in

amblyopia. Am J Optom Physiol Opt 1975; 52:243-7. 9. Kirschen DG, Kendall JH, Reisen KS. An evaluation of the

accommodative response in amblyopic eyes. Am J Optom Physiol Opt 1981; 58:597-602.

10. Harwerth RS, Smith EL, Duncan GC, et al. Multiple sensitive

periods in the development of the primate visual system. Science 1986; 232:235-8.

11. Evens L, Kuypers C. The incidence of functional amblyopia in

Belgium. Bull Soc Belge Ophthal 1967; 147:445-9.

References 33

12. National Eye Institute. Visual acuity impairment survey pilot study. Bethesda, MD: NEI, 1984.

13. Schapero M. Amblyopia. Philadelphia: Chilton, 1971:35-55. 14. von Noorden GK. Classification of amblyopia. Am J Ophthalmol

1967; 63:238-44. 15. Amos JF. Refractive amblyopia: its classification, etiology, and

epidemiology. J Am Optom Assoc 1977; 48:489-97. 16. Amos JF. Refractive amblyopia. In: Amos JF, ed. Diagnosis and

management in vision care. Boston: Butterworths, 1987:369-408. 17. Caloroso EE, Rouse MW. Clinical management of strabismus.

Boston: Butterworth-Heinemann, 1993. 18. Anderson RL, Baumgartner SA. Amblyopia in ptosis. Arch

Ophthalmol 1980; 98:1068-9. 19. Harrad RA, Graham CM, Collin JRO. Amblyopia and strabismus

in congenital ptosis. Eye 1988; 2:625-7. 20. Hardesty HH. Occlusion amblyopia: report of a case. Arch

Ophthalmol 1959; 62:314-6. 21. von Noorden GK. Amblyopia caused by unilateral atropinization.

Ophthalmology 1981; 88:131-3. 22. Cline D, Hofstetter HW, Griffin JR. Dictionary of visual science,

4th ed. Radnor, PA: Chilton, 1989:23. 23. Fern KD. Visual acuity outcome in isometropic hyperopia.

Optom Vis Sci 1989; 66:649-58.


24. Jampolsky A, Flom MC, Weymouth FW, Moses LE. Unequal corrected visual acuity as related to anisometropia. Arch Ophthalmol 1955; 54:893-905.

25. Kivlin JD, Flynn JT. Therapy of anisometropic amblyopia. J

Pediatr Ophthalmol Strabismus 1981; 18:47-56. 26. Tanlamai T, Goss DA. Prevalence of monocular amblyopia

among anisometropes. Am J Optom Physiol Opt 1979; 56:704-15. 27. Ingram RM. Refraction as a basis for screening children for squint

and amblyopia. Br J Ophthalmol 1977; 61:8-15. 28. Flom MC, Bedell HE. Identifying amblyopia using associated

conditions, acuity, and nonacuity features. Am J Optom Physiol Opt 1985; 62:153-60.

29. Flom MC, Weymouth FW. Centricity of Maxwell's spot in

strabismus and amblyopia. Arch Ophthalmol 1961; 66:260-8. 30. Kirschen DG, Flom MC. Visual acuity at different retinal loci of

eccentrically fixating functional amblyopes. Am J Optom Physiol Opt 1978; 55:144-50.

31. Limpaecher E. Amblyopia therapy: methods and results. Am

Orthopt J 1969; 19:97-103. 32. Hillis A, Flynn JT, Hawkins BS. The evolving concept of

amblyopia: a challenge to epidemiologists. Am J Epidemiol 1983; 118:192-205.

33. Hillis A. Amblyopia: prevalent, curable, neglected. Public Health

Rev 1986; 14(3-4):213-35. 34. Flom MC, Neumaier RW. Prevalence of amblyopia. Public

Health Rep 1966; 81:329-41.

References 35

35. Garzia RP. Management of amblyopia in infants, toddlers, and preschool children. Probl in Optom 1990; 2:438-58.

36. Thompson JR, Woodruff G, Hiscox FA, et al. The incidence and

prevalence of amblyopia in childhood. Public Health 1991; 105:455-62.

37. Castren J. The significance of prematurity on the eye--with

reference to retrolental fibroplasia. Acta Ophthalmol 1955; 44(suppl):19-31.

38. Fledelius H. Prematurity and the eye: ophthalmic 10-year follow-

up of children of low and normal birth weight. Acta Ophthalmol 1976; 128(suppl):1-245.

39. Kitchen WH, Richards A, Ryan MM, et al. A longitudinal study of

very low-birthweight infants. II: Results of controlled trial of intensive care and incidence of handicaps. Dev Med Child Neurol 1979; 21:582-9.

40. Kushner BJ. Strabismus and amblyopia associated with regressed

retinopathy of prematurity. Arch Ophthalmol 1982; 100:256-61. 41. Pigassou-Albouy R, Fleming A. Amblyopia and strabismus in

patients with cerebral palsy. Ann Ophthalmol 1975; 7:382-7. 42. Breakey AS. Ocular findings in cerebral palsy. Arch Ophthalmol

1955; 53:852-6. 43. Maruo T, Kubota N. The ocular disturbances of cerebral palsy. I.

The ocular disturbances of cerebral palsy. Ocular disturbances and rehabilitation of physically and mentally handicapped children. Acta Soc Ophthalmol Jpn 1971; 75:801-7.

44. Tuppuraninen K. Ocular findings among mentally retarded

children in Finland. Acta Ophthalmol (Copenh) 1983; 61:634-44.


45. Wiesinger H. Ocular findings in mentally retarded children. J Pediatr Ophthalmol Strabismus 1964; 1(3):37-41.

46. Rubin W, Helm C, McCormack MK. Ocular motor anomalies in

monozygotic and dizygotic twins. In: Reinecke RD, ed. Strabismus. Proceedings of the third meeting of the International Strabismological Association, May 10-12, 1978, Kyoto, Japan. New York: Grune & Stratton, 1978:89-95.

47. Waardenburg PJ. Squint and heredity. Doc Ophthalmol 1954;

8:422-94. 48. Spivey BE. Strabismus: factors in anticipating its occurrence.

Aust J Ophthalmol 1980; 8:5-9. 49. Wattam-Bell J, Braddick O, Atkinson J, Day J. Measures of infant

binocularity in a group at risk for strabismus. Clin Vis Sci 1987; 1:327-36.

50. Hiles DH, Hered RW. Disorders of the lens. In: Isenberg SJ, ed.

The eye in infancy. Chicago: Year Book Medical Publishers, 1989:284-319.

51. Rantakallio P, Krause U, Krause K. The use of the

ophthalmological services during the preschool age, ocular findings and family background. J Pediatr Ophthalmol Strabismus 1978; 15:253-8.

52. Miller M, Israel J, Cuttone J. Fetal alcohol syndrome. J Pediatr

Ophthalmol Strabismus 1981; 18:6-15. 53. Good WV, da Sa LCF, Lyons CJ, Hoyt CS. Monocular visual

outcome in untreated early onset esotropia. Br J Ophthalmol 1993; 77:492-4.

54. Hoyt CS, Jastrebski GB, Marg E. Amblyopia and congenital

esotropia: visually evoked potential measurements. Arch Ophthalmol 1984; 102:58-61.

References 37

55. Keech RV, Kutschke PJ. Upper age limit for the development of amblyopia. J Pediatr Ophthalmol Strabismus, 1995; 32:89-93.

56. Flom MC, Kerr KE. Amblyopia: a hidden threat? J Am Optom

Assoc 1965; 36:906-12. 57. Tommila V, Tarkkanen A. Incidence of loss of vision in the

healthy eye in amblyopia. Br J Ophthalmol 1981; 65:575-7. 58. Tommila V, Tarkkanen A. Treatment of amblyopia after loss of

vision in the healthy eye. Ophthalmic Pediatr Genet 1982; 1:177-82.

59. Vereecken EP, Brabant P. Prognosis for vision in amblyopia after

the loss of the good eye. Arch Ophthalmol 1984; 102:220-4. 60. Rosner J, Rosner J. Some observations of the relationship between

the visual perceptual skills development of young hyperopes and age of first lens correction. Clin Exp Optom 1986; 69:166-8.

61. Ingram RM, Barr A. Changes in refraction between the ages of 1

and 3 1/2 years. Br J Ophthalmol 1979; 63:339-42. 62. Ingram RM, Walker C. Refraction as a means of predicting squint

or amblyopia in preschool siblings of children known to have these defects. Br J Ophthalmol 1979; 63:238-42.

63. Atkinson J, Braddick O, French J. Infant astigmatism: its

disappearance with age. Vision Res 1980; 20:891-3. 64. Abrahamsson M, Fabian G, Sjostrand J. Changes in astigmatism

between the ages of 1 and 4 years: a longitudinal study. Br J Ophthalmol 1988; 72:145-9.

65. Sjostrand J, Abrahamsson M. Risk factors in amblyopia. Eye

1990; 4:787-93.


66. Anker S, Atkinson J, Bobier W, et al. Infant vision screening programme: screening for refractive errors in infants with a family history of strabismus--will early detection predict later visual problems? Br Orthopt J 1992; 49:12-4.

67. Lithander J, Sjostrand J. Anisometropic and strabismic amblyopia

in the age group 2 years and above: a prospective study of the results of treatment. Br J Ophthalmol 1991; 75:111-6.

68. Lippman O. Vision screening of young children. Am J Public

Health 1971; 61:1566-601. 69. Fern KD, Manny RE. Visual acuity of the preschool child: a

review. Am J Optom Physiol Opt 1986; 63:319-45. 70. Rouse MW, Ryan JB. The optometric examination and clinical

management of children. In: Rosenbloom AA, Morgan MW, eds. Principles and practice of pediatric optometry. Philadelphia: JB Lippincott, 1990:155-91.

71. Marsh-Tootle WL. Clinical methods of testing visual acuity in

amblyopia. Probl Optom 1991; 3:208-36. 72. Flom MC. New concepts on visual acuity. Optom Weekly 1966;

57:63-8. 73. Griffin JR. Visual acuity testing in amblyopia using Flom

psychometric analysis. Optom Mon 1982; 73:460-7. 74. Davidson DW, Eskridge JB. Reliability of visual acuity measures

of amblyopic eyes. Am J Optom Physiol Optics 1977; 54:756-66. 75. Lovie-Kitchen JE. Validity and reliability of visual acuity

measurements. Ophthalmic Physiol Opt 1989; 9:458. 76. Wick B, Schor CM. A comparison of the Snellen chart and the S-

chart for visual acuity assessment in amblyopia. J Am Optom Assoc 1984; 55:359-61.

References 39

77. Dell'Osso LF, Schmidt D, Daroff RB. Latent, manifest latent, and congenital nystagmus. Arch Ophthalmol 1979; 97:1877-85.

78. Gay AJ, Newman NM, Keltner JL,Stroud MH. Eye movement

disorders. St. Louis: CV Mosby, 1974:65. 79. Dorman K. Binocular versus monocular acuity in a patient with

latent nystagmus. J Am Optom Assoc 1982; 53:485-6. 80. Wick B, Wingard M, Cotter S, Scheiman M. Anisometropic

amblyopia: is the patient ever too old to treat? Optom Vis Sci 1992; 69:866-78.

81. Griffin JR. Binocular anomalies: procedures for vision therapy,

2nd ed. Chicago: Professional Press, 1982:86-8. 82. Goldrich SG. Emergent textural contours: a new technique for

visual monitoring in nystagmus, oculomotor dysfunction, and accommodative disorders. Am J Optom Physiol Opt 1981; 58:451-9.

83. Hoffman LG, Rouse MW. Referral recommendations for

binocular function and/or developmental perceptual deficiencies. J Am Optom Assoc 1980; 51:119-26.

84. Wick B, Hall P. Relation among accommodative facility, lag, and

amplitude in elementary school children. Am J Optom Physiol Opt 1987; 64:593-8.

85. Rouse MW, London R, Allen DC. An evaluation of the monocular

estimate method of dynamic retinoscopy. Am J Optom Physiol Opt 1982; 59:234-9.

86. Marcus SE. A syndrome of visual constrictions in the learning

disabled child. J Am Optom Assoc 1974; 45:746-9.


87. Maples WC, Ficklin TW. Test retest reliability of the King-Devick saccade and the NSUCO ocularmotor tests. Behav Optom 1991; 3(3):209-14.

88. Garzia RP, Richman JE, Nicholson SB, Gaines CS. A new visual-

verbal saccade test: the developmental eye movement (DEM) test. J Am Optom Assoc 1990; 61:124-35.

89. Winter JD. Clinical oculography. J Am Optom Assoc 1974;

45:1308-13. 90. Kushner BJ. Functional amblyopia associated with organic ocular

disease. Am J Ophthalmol 1981; 91:39-45. 91. Kushner BJ. Functional amblyopia associated with abnormalities

of the optic nerve. Arch Ophthalmol 1984; 102:683-5. 92. Kushner BJ. Amblyopia in acquired monocular cataract with optic

nerve anomaly. Binoc Vis 1985; 1:217-22. 93. Schrader KE. Influence of dominance on susceptibility of the eye

to disease. EENT Monthly 1965; 44:66-70. 94. Ham O, Claramunt M, Diaz T. Strabismic amblyopia: final results

of occlusion treatment in 205 cases. Binoc Vis 1985; 1:195-202. 95. Blakemore C, Van Sluyters RC. Reversal of the physiological

effects of monocular deprivation in kittens: further evidence for a sensitive period. J Physiol 1974; 237:195-261.

96. Arden GB, Barnard WM. Effect of occlusion on the visual evoked

response in amblyopia. Trans Ophthal Soc U.K. 1979; 99:419-26. 97. Swindale NV, Vital-Durand, Blakemore C. Recovery from

monocular deprivation in the monkey. III. Reversal of anatomical effects in the visual cortex. Proc Royal Soc Lond 1981; 213:435-50.

References 41

98. Rauschecker JP, Schrader W, von Grunau MW. Rapid recovery from monocular deprivation in kittens after specific visual training. Clin Vis Sci 1987; 1:257-68.

99. Sanac A, Vaegan, Watson PG. Restoration of the visually evoked

potential to normal after intensive visual stimulation. Trans Ophthal Soc U.K. 1979; 99:455-6.

100. Clarke WN, Noel LP. Prognostic indicators for avoiding occlusion

therapy in anisometropic amblyopia. Am Orthopt J 1990; 40:57-63.

101. Edwards KH. The management of ametropic and anisometropic

amblyopia with contact lenses. Ophthal Optician 1979; 19:925-9. 102. Bradley A, Rabin J, Freeman RD. Nonoptical determinants of

aniseikonia. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 1983; 24:507-12. 103. Rose L, Levinson A. Anisometropia and aniseikonia. Am J

Optom Physiol Opt 1972; 49:480-4. 104. Arner RS. Eikonometer measurements in anisometropes with

spectacles and contact lenses. J Am Optom Assoc 1969; 40:712-5. 105. Rabin J, Bradley A, Freeman RD. On the relation between

aniseikonia and axial anisometropia. Am J Optom Physiol Opt 1983; 60:553-8.

106. Awaya S, von Noorden GK. Aniseikonia measurement by phase

difference haploscope in myopic anisometropia and unilateral aphakia (with special reference to Knapp's law and comparison between correction with spectacle lenses and contact lenses). J Jpn Contact Lens Soc 1971; 13:131-9.

107. van der Torren K. Treatment of amblyopia in strongly

anisometropic eyes. Doc Ophthalmol 1985; 59:99-104.


108. Phelps WL. Contact lenses in strabismus. Am Orthopt J 1971; 21:107-9.

109. Ruben M, Walker J. Contact lenses used as occluders. Br Orthopt

J 1967; 24:120-5. 110. Catford GV, Mackie IA. Occlusion with high plus corneal lenses.

Br J Ophthalmol 1968; 52:342-5. 111. Elmer J, Fahmy YA, Nyholm M, Norskov K. Extended wear soft

contact lenses in the treatment of strabismic amblyopia. Acta Ophthalmol 1981; 59:546-51.

112. Ron A, Nawratzki I. Penalization treatment of amblyopia: a

follow-up study of two years in older children. J Pediatr Ophthalmol Strabismus 1982; 19:137-9.

113. Uemura Y, Katsumi O. Form-vision deprivation amblyopia and

strabismic amblyopia. Graefes Arch Clin Exp Ophthalmol 1988; 226:193-6.

114. Piligrim A, Turner S. A survey of cases of eccentric fixation in

children up to 10 years of age seen during the last 10 years. Br Orthopt J 1974; 31:59-64.

115. Parks MM, Friendly DS. Treatment of eccentric fixation in

children under four years of age. Am J Ophthalmol 1966; 61:395-9.

116. von Noorden GK. Occlusion therapy in amblyopia with eccentric

fixation. Arch Ophthalmol 1965; 73:776-8. 117. Scully J. Early intensive occlusion in strabismus with non-central

fixation. Br Med J 1961; 2:1610-2. 118. Urist MJ. Eccentric fixation in amblyopia ex anopsia. Arch

Ophthalmol 1955; 54:345-50.

References 43

119. Dayson A. 5-year survey of the use of occlusion in the treatment of eccentric fixation. Br Orthopt J 1968; 25:66-74.

120. Devries J. Anisometropia in children: analysis of a hospital

population. Br J Ophthalmol 1985; 69:504-7. 121. Sen DK. Results of treatment of anisohypermetropic amblyopia

without strabismus. Br J Ophthalmol 1982; 66:680-4. 122. Wong C, Morin JD. Anisometropic amblyopia. Am Orthopt J

1980; 30:88-92. 123. Sullivan M. Results in the treatment of anisometropic amblyopia.

Am Orthopt J 1976; 26:37-42. 124. Jackson CRS. Hypermetropic anisometropia. Br Orthopt J 1964;

21:106-10. 125. MacDiarmid JDC, Waterhouse PF. Amblyopia associated with

anisometropic hypermetropia. Trans Ophthalmol Soc NZ 1974; 26:39-42.

126. Hedgpeth EM, Sullivan M. Anisometropic amblyopia and its

treatment. South Med J 1977; 70:1059-60. 127. Flynn JT, Cassady JC. Current trends in amblyopia therapy.

Ophthalmology 1978; 85:428-50. 128. Neumann R, Oliver M, Gottesmann N, Shimshoni M. Prognosis

for occlusive therapy for strabismic and ansiometropic amblyopia and for different depths of amblyopia. Chibret Int J Ophthalmol 1989; 6:22-6.

129. Oliver M, Neumann R, Chaimovitch Y, et al. Compliance and

results of treatment for amblyopia in children more than 8 years old. Am J Ophthalmol 1986; 102:340-5.


130. Swan KC. Esotropia following occlusion. Arch Ophthalmol 1947; 37:444-51.

131. Swan KC. Esotropia precipitated by occlusion. Am Orthopt J

1980; 30:49-59. 132. Charney K, Morris JE. Decompensation of pre-existing esotropia

during occlusion therapy. Am Orthopt J 1984; 34:83-6. 133. Pine L, Shippman S. The influence of occlusion therapy on eso

deviations. Am Orthopt J 1982; 32:61-5. 134. American Optometric Association. Definition of optometric vision

therapy. St. Louis: AOA, June, 1991. 135. Giles GH. The practice of orthoptics. London: Hammond,

Hammond & Company Limited, 1943:175-188. 136. Forrest EB. Feedback and the visual process. J Am Optom Assoc

1981; 52:717-24. 137. Letourneau JE. Application of biofeedback and behavior

modification techniques in visual training. Am J Optom Physiol Opt 1976; 53:187-90.

138. Cornsweet TN, Crane HD. Training the visual accommodation

system. Vision Res 1973; 13:713-5. 139. Liu JS, Lee M, Jang J, et al. Objective assessment of

accommodative orthoptics. I. Dynamic insufficiency. Am J Optom Physiol Opt 1979; 56:285-94.

140. North RV, Henson DB. Effects of orthoptics upon the ability of

patients to adapt to prism induced heterophoria. Am J Optom Physiol Opt 1982; 59:983-6.

141. Flax N. Some thoughts on the clinical management of amblyopia.

Am J Optom Physiol Opt 1983; 60:450-3.

References 45

142. Cotter SA. Conventional therapy for amblyopia. Probl Optom 1991; 3:312-30.

143. Callahan WP, Berry D. The value of visual stimulation during

contact and direct occlusion. Am Orthopt J 1968; 18:73-4. 144. Francois J, James M. Comparative study of amblyopic treatment.

Am Orthopt J 1955; 5:61-4. 145. von Noorden GK, Springer F, Romano P, Parks M. Home therapy

for amblyopia. Am Orthopt J 1970; 20:46-50. 146. Selenow A, Ciuffreda KJ. Vision function recovery during

orthoptic therapy in an exotropic amblyope with high unilateral myopia. Am J Optom Physiol Opt 1983; 60:659-66.

147. Garzia RP. Efficacy of vision therapy in amblyopia: a literature

review. Am J Optom Physiol Opt 1987; 64:393-404. 148. Flom MC. Issues in the clinical management of binocular

anomalies. In: Rosenbloom AA, Morgan MW, eds. Principle and practice of pediatric optometry. Philadelphia: JB Lippincott, 1990:219-44.

149. Wick B. Amblyopia--a case report. Am J Optom 1973; 50:727-

30. 150. von Noorden GK. Amblyopia: a multidisciplinary approach.

Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 1985; 26:1704-16. 151. Holopigian K, Blake R, Greenwald MJ. Clinical suppression and

amblyopia. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 1988; 29:444-51. 152. Cohen AH. Monocular fixation in a binocular field. J Am Optom

Assoc 1981; 52:801-6. 153. Jacobson SG, Mohindra I, Held R. Monocular visual form

deprivation in human infants. Doc Ophthalmol 1983; 55:199-211.


154. Mohindra I, Jacobson SG, Held R. Binocular visual form deprivation in human infants. Doc Ophthalmol 1983; 55:237-49.

155. Elston JS, Timms C. Clinical evidence for the onset of the

sensitive period in infancy. Br J Ophthalmol 1992; 76:327-8. 156. Schoenleber DB, Crouch ER. Bilateral hypermetropic amblyopia.

J Pediatr Ophthalmol Strabismus 1987; 24:75-7. 157. Werner DB, Scott WE. Amblyopia case reports--bilateral

hypermetropic ametropic amblyopia. J Pediatr Ophthalmol Strabismus 1985; 22:203-5.

158. Mets M, Price RL. Contact lenses in the management of myopic

anisometropic amblyopia. Am J Ophthalmol 1991; 91:484-9. 159. Massie H. Fixing eye occlusion: survey of approximately 1000

case histories of patients who received occlusion of the fixing eye. Trans Ophthalmol Soc Aust 1965; 24:39-46.

160. von Noorden GK, Crawford MLJ. The sensitive period. Trans

Ophthalmol Soc UK 1979; 99:442-6. 161. Kasser MD, Feldman JB. Amblyopia in adults. Am J Ophthalmol

1953; 36:1443-6. 162. Kupfer C. Treatment of amblyopia ex anopsia in adults. Am J

Ophthalmol 1957; 43:918-22. 163. Gould A, Fishkoff D, Galin M. Active visual stimulation: a

method of treatment of amblyopia in the older patient. Am Orthopt J 1970; 20:39-45.

164. Brown MH, Edelman PM. Conventional occlusion in the older

amblyope. Am Orthopt J 1976; 26:34-6.

References 47

165. Birnbaum MH, Koslowe K, Sanet R. Success in amblyopia therapy as a function of age: a literature survey. Am J Optom Physiol Opt 1977; 54:269-75.

166. Saulles H. Treatment of refractive amblyopia in adults. J Am

Optom Assoc 1987; 58:959-60. 167. Ciuffreda KJ. Visual system plasticity in human amblyopia. In:

Hilfer SR, Sheffield B, eds. Development of order in the visual system. New York: Springer-Verlag, 1986:211-44.

168. Press LJ. Amblyopia. J Optom Vis Dev 1988; 19(1):2-15. 169. McKee SP, Schor CM, Steinman SB, et al. The classification of

amblyopia on the basis of visual and oculomotor performance. Trans Am Ophthalmol Soc 1992; 90:123-48.

170. Abraham SV. Bilateral ametropic amblyopia. J Pediatr

Ophthalmol Strabismus 1964; 1:57-61. 171. Scott WE, Dickey CF. Stability of visual acuity in amblyopic

patients after visual maturity. Graefes Arch Clin Exp Ophthalmol 1988; 226:154-7.

172. Kutschke PJ, Scott WE, Keech RV. Anisometropic amblyopia.

Ophthalmology 1991; 98:258-63. 173. Pollard ZF, Manley D. Long-term results in the treatment of

unilateral high myopia with amblyopia. Am J Ophthalmol 1974; 78:397-9.

174. Sen DK. Results of treatment in amblyopia associated with

unilateral high myopia without strabismus. Br J Ophthalmol 1984; 68:681-5.

175. Hoh H, Kienecker C, Ruprecht KW. Correction of unilateral

refractive errors with contact lenses in infancy and early childhood. Contactologia 1993; 15E:105-15.


176. Rutstein RP, Fuhr PS. Efficacy and stability of amblyopia therapy. Optom Vis Sci 1992; 69:747-54.

177. Campos EC, Gulli R. Lack of alternation in patients treated for

strabismic amblyopia. Am J Ophthalmol 1985; 99:63-5.

Appendix 49

IV. APPENDIX Figure 1

Optometric Management of the Patient with Amblyopia: A Brief Flowchart

Patient history and examination Supplemental

testing

Assessment and diagnosis

Patient counseling and education

Treatment and management

Remove any physical obstruction

Prescribe occlusion if indicated

Schedule for periodic re-evaluation per Guideline

When visual acuity improves to 20/40-20/60 re-evaluate binocular status

Treat residual binocular conditions

Establish followup schedule to monitor visual acuity

Correct significant refractive error

Prescribe monocular vision therapy, if indicated

Counsel patient/parent on progress; update treatment plan

Prescribe anti-suppression activities under binocular conditions


Figure 2

Potential Components of the Diagnostic Evaluation for Amblyopia

A. Patient history

B. Visual acuity

C. Refraction (noncycloplegic and cycloplegic)

D. Monocular fixation

E. Ocular motor deviation

F. Sensorimotor fusion

G. Accommodation

H. Ocular motility

I. Ocular health assessment and systemic health screening

J. Supplemental testing

1. Electrodiagnostic testing

2. Additional differential diagnostic testing

Appendix 51

Figure 3 Frequency and Composition of Evaluation and

Management Visits for Amblyopia

Type of Patient Evaluation Visits Prognosis* Treatment Options+

Monocular Form Deprivation Amblyopia

1-2 Fair (if diagnosed and treated during critical period)

1. Surgery optical correction

2. Surgery optical correction visual stimulation

Binocular Form Deprivation Amblyopia

1-2 Fair (if diagnosed and treated during critical period)

1. Surgery optical correction 2. Surgery optical correction visual stimulation

Isometropic Refractive Amblyopia

1-2 Good

1. Optical correction 2. Optical correction vision therapy

Anisometropic Refractive Amblyopia

1-2 Good

1. Optical correction 2. Optical correction occlusion (part-time) 3. Optical correction

occlusion (part-time) vision therapy

Strabismic Amblyopia (Central Fixation)

1-2 Good

1. Optical correction occlusion 2. Optical correction occlusion vision therapy

Strabismic Amblyopia (Eccentric Fixation)

1-2 Fair

1. Optical correction occlusion 2. Optical correction occlusion vision therapy

= Figure 3 extends horizontally through page 52.

* = General prognosis; prognosis is improved during critical sensitive period of development,

but compliance and motivation afford improvements into adulthood. + = Surgery is indicated in cases of congenital cataract and ptosis.


Figure 3 (Continued)

Composition of FU Evaluations Frequency of FU Visits

Estimated Total VT Visits++

VA REF MF BS

1. Every 2-4 wks for 1 yr; every 6 mos. thereafter 2. Every 2-4 wks for 1 yr; every 6 mos. thereafter

Each visit

Each visit _____ Each

visit

1. Every 2-4 wks for 1 yr; every 6 mos. thereafter 2. Every 2-4 wks for 1 yr; every 6 mos. thereafter

Each visit

Each visit _____ Each

visit

1. Re-evaluate in 4-6 wks; every 4-6 mos FU 2. Re-evaluate in 4-6 wks; 2-6 mo FU after VT

10-15 Each visit PRN PRN Each

visit

1. Re-evaluate in 4-6 wks; every 2-6 mos. FU 2. Re-evaluate in 4-6 wks; every 2-4 wk FU 3. Re-evaluate in 4-6 wks; 2-6 mo FU after VT


visit

1. Re-evaluate in 4-6 wks; every 2-4 wk FU 2. Re-evaluate in 4-6 wks; 2-6 mo FU after VT


visit

1. Re-evaluate in 4-6 wks; every 2-4 wk FU 2. Re-evaluate in 4-6 wks; 2-6 mo FU after VT

25-35 Each visit PRN Each

visit Each visit

++ = Estimated visits may vary based on co-existing conditions, patient compliance, etc. VA = visual acuity, REF = refractive status, MF = monocular fixation, BS = binocular status, FU = follow-up visit, VT = vision therapy, PRN = as necessary

Appendix 53

Figure 4 ICD-9-CM Classification of Functional Amblyopia

Amblyopia ex anopsia.................................................................... 368.0 Amblyopia, unspecified ................................................................. 368.00 Strabismic amblyopia .................................................................... 368.01 Suppression amblyopia Deprivation amblyopia .................................................................. 368.02 Refractive amblyopia..................................................................... 368.03


Glossary Accommodative insufficiency Less accommodative amplitude than expected for the patient's age. Amblyopiogenic factors Underlying clinical conditions that are responsible for amblyopia, e.g., uncorrected anisometropia. Amblyopiogenic mechanisms Physiological mechanisms of form vision deprivation and binocular inhibition that actually cause amblyopia. Aniseikonia Relative difference in the size or shape of the ocular images. Anisometropia Condition of unequal refractive state for the two eyes, in which one eye requires a different lens correction than the other. Anisometropic amblyopia Refractive amblyopia attributed to previously uncorrected anisometropia, typically in the eye with the greater refractive error. Astigmatism Refractive anomaly due to unequal refraction of light in different meridians of the eye, generally caused by a toroidal anterior surface of the cornea. Binocular inhibition Cortical process that inhibits or suppresses information coming from one eye, i.e., the eye with the higher refractive error in anisometropia or the turned eye in strabismus. Diplopia A condition in which a single object is perceived as two rather than one; double vision. Eccentric fixation Monocular fixation that does not use the central foveal area.

Appendix 55

Electroretinogram (ERG) The electrical effect originated by a pulse of light recorded from the surface of the eyeball. Measures general retinal function. Hyperopia Refractive condition in which the light entering the nonaccommodated eye is focused behind the retina (farsightedness). Latent nystagmus Nystagmus induced by covering either of the two eyes but otherwise absent, commonly found in early-onset strabismus patients. Myopia Refractive condition in which the light entering the nonaccommodated eye is focused in front of the retina (nearsightedness). Occlusion The act of obscuring or blocking the vision of an eye with an occluder. Orthoptics The treatment process for the improvement of visual perception and coordination of the two eyes for efficient and comfortable binocular vision. Synonyms: visual training, vision therapy. Penalization therapy Procedure in which the dominant eye is occluded or blurred with an optical lens or pharmacological agent so as to favor the nondominant eye. Psychogenic Of mental origin or causation. Psychometric Process of analyzing visual acuity data, specifically visual acuity data from amblyopic patients, to arrive at a more accurate and reliable estimate of true visual acuity. Sensorimotor fusion The process in which stimuli seen separately by the two eyes are combined, synthesized, or integrated into a single image; and the relative movements of the two eyes necessary to maintain this single image. Stereopsis Perception of three-dimensional depth or solidity due to retinal disparity.


Strabismus Condition in which binocular fixation is not present under normal seeing conditions, i.e., one eye is turned in relation to the other. Suppression The inability to perceive all or part of objects in the field of vision of one eye. Vision therapy Treatment process for the improvement of visual perception and coordination of the two eyes for efficient and comfortable binocular vision. Synonym: orthoptics, visual training. Visual acuity The clearness of vision that depends upon the sharpness of focus of the retinal image and the integrity of the retina and visual pathway. Visual evoked potential Electrical discharge that occurs in the visual cortex in response to visual stimuli, recorded through electrodes on the scalp at the back of the head, generally reflecting foveal function and visual pathway integrity from the eye to the visual cortex. Visuoscopy Examination of the eye using an ophthalmoscope with a calibrated fixation target to determine whether the patient has central or eccentric fixation. _________________________ Sources: Cline D, Hofstetter HW, Griffin JR. Dictionary of visual science, 4th ed. Radnor, PA: Chilton, 1989. Grosvenor TP. Primary care optometry. Anomalies of refraction and binocular vision, 3rd ed. Boston: Butterworth-Heinemann, 1996:575-91. Stedman's Medical Dictionary, 26th ed. Baltimore: Williams & Wilkins, 1995.

Documents

Care of the Patient with Amblyopia (Clinical Practice Guideline 4)